Apparatus for treating textile material

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for applying, controlling and monitoring the amount of liquid to moving filamentary material per unit length of the material by moving said material in wiping engagement with part of the surface of a driven roller, another part of which dips into a reservoir normally containing a prescribed amount of liquid, maintaining a specified level of liquid within the reservoir by means of a sensing element that activates a fill pump upon separation of the sensing element from the liquid level of the reservoir, and monitoring the amount of liquid pickup by the filamentary material by counting the pump impulses upon each activation thereof and said counter means being operatively in communication with a continuous digital tape readout for liquid pickup surveillance.

United States Patent [191 Carr et al.

[ Jan. 2, 1973 [54] APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE MATERIAL [73] Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation, Petersburg, Va.

[22] Filed: April 11, 1969 [21] App]. No.: 815,440

[52] U.S. Cl. ..68/202, 81151.2, 118/234,

118/420 [51] Int. Cl. ..D06j 35/00 [58] Field of Search ....68/202, 157, 158, 147; 118/7, 118/234, 420; 8/158, 142, 147 R 3,424,125 1/1969 Wiggins ..118/7 2,887,087 5/1959 Jones ..l18/7 2,545,445 3/1951 Chaherton 2,694,963 11/1954 MacDonald ..I 18/7 X Primary Examiner-R. Hampton Hunter Attorney--Luther A. Marsh and Roy H. Massengill 57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for applying, controlling and monitoring the amount of liquid to moving filamentary material per unit length of the material by moving said material in wiping engagement with part of the surface of a driven roller, another part of which dips into a reservoir normally containing a prescribed amount of liquid, maintaining a specified level of liquid within the reservoir by means of a sensing element that activates a fill pump upon separation of the sensing element from the liquid level of the reservoir, and monitoring the amount of liquid pickup by the filamentary material by counting the pump impulses upon each activation thereof and said counter means being operatively in communication with a continuous digital tape readout for liquid pickup surveillance.

3 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEDJAM 2 ma IN VENTORS Robert D. Carr Harry I Call/er BY Clare e E. Jones 4% ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the treatment of textile filaments, yarns or threads, and more particularly to the application, controlling and monitoring of an .amount of a fluid treating agent to such materials.

The preparation and processing of textile filaments, fibers, yarns and threads usually require some type of fluid treatment application thereto as a lubricant or size to t maximize inter-filament adhesion to reduce breakage as well as to pre-condition the fibers for smooth subsequent operations. Numerous such methods of treating fibers and known. Some such methods include wicking devices, applicator rolls, spraying devices and even immersion baths. And even though one or more of these methods is considered satisfactory for various specific situations depending upon the material to be treated as well as the conditioning agent to be used, difficulty still exists in applying, controlling and monitoring the amount of a fluid treating agent pickup to a moving filamentary material wherein it is necessary to apply'and control a proper predetermined amount of the fluid to the moving filamentary material and then monitor the amount actually picked up or'applied to ascertain if the amount applied is within the tolerances allowed for the specific filamentary material being prepared or processed. Needless to say, an apparatus and method that would apply, control and monitor the amount of liquid to moving filamentary material per unit length of said material substantially automatically, accurately and in one operation would make a substantial contribution to this art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus and method whereby a fluid treating agent, is applied, controlled and monitored to filaments, yarns or threads. Another object of the invention is to provide means for applying, controlling and monitoring a fluid treating agent to a moving filamentary material accurately and automatically. A further object of the invention is to provide means for applying, controlling and monitoring a fluid treating agent whereby an accurate amount of fluid applied to the filamentary material is automatically recorded by a continuous digital tape readout means for constant and continuous surveillance. Further objects and advantages of this invention, such as, arrangement and its relationship to various construction details and to parts combination, and to manufacture economics and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and drawing wherein the FIGURE is an isometric plan view of the apparatus of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Referring to the drawing, a quantity of liquid conditioning material isstored in liquid supply tank 20. This supply tank 20 is connected to liquid reservoir 23 by conduit means 21 having a conventional positive displacement pump 22' equipped with a Harco Elec-. tromagnetic Impulse Counter 37, distributed by Herback & Raddman, Philadelphia, Pa. disposed therein. An electrode sensing means 33, and electric ground wire 34 are mounted as illustrated in reservoir 23 and operatively connected to control means 30 by electronic means 35. The electrode sensing means 33 and electronic level control means 35 used are manufactured by General Cement Company, Los Angeles,

California. Control means 30 is a specifically designed controller having the impulse counter means 37, a conventional interval timer 38 and digital readout means 39 and the electronic level control means 35 disposed therein and operatively connected and functionally integrated one with the other in such a manner as to be capable of overall substantially automatic operation of the apparatus and method of this invention. Said digital readout means 39 can further be operatively connected and integrated through control means 30 to provide a continuous tape readout thereby making a permanent record enabling easy surveillance of liquid pickup by the filamentary material, said digital readout means operatively in communication with said impulse counter in accordance with the formula:

% Liquid Pickup [(Impulse Counter Reading) (cc/impulse) X Grams of Polymer Spun] In operation, a strand of filamentary material 5 is metered continuously over liquid applicator roll 24 which is rotated in reservoir 23 by drive means not shown. As liquid applicator roll 24 is rotated, liquid is picked up on its surface and transferred to the moving filamentary material 5. As the liquid level in reservoir 23 is separated from the electrode sensing means 33 by being transferred to the moving filamentary material 5, an impulse is fed from the electrode sensing means 33 to the electronic level control means 35 which, in turn, activates counter means 37, interval timer 38 and positive displacement metering pump 22 which refills reservoir 23 until the electrode sensing means 33 is again in contact with the liquid within reservoir 23 whereupon metering pump 22, counter means 37, interval timer 38 and digital readout means 39 are automatically inactivated. Counter means 37 is operatively connected to andin communication with an interval timer 38 and a digital readout 39 which may be further interconnected to a continuous tape readout thereby making, a permanent recording which enables easy surveillance of the amount of liquid pickup by the filamentary material. Line voltage is delivered via leads 15 to control means 30. The monitoring cycle can be repeated as often as desired or necessary by activating control means 30, reset switch 31 and timer switch 36.

Another mode of operation is wherein the apparatusv can be used as a portable unit for monitoring or determining the amount of liquid pickup on the. moving strand of filamentary material for any position desired. When the apparatus is to be used in this manner it isset up in a manner similar to the continuous operation above; however, it is operated only for such time as necessary to determine the percent liquid pickup on the moving strand of filamentary material for any position. The discharge end of the conduit means 21 from metering pump 22 and the electrode sensing means 33 from the control means 30 are attached to liquid reservoir 23. The suction end of the conduit means 21 is connected to the liquid supply tank 20. The metering pump motor, not shown, is operatively connected to control means 30. Control means 30 is then activated through leads l5. Metering pump 22 upon activation will then supply liquid to liquid reservoir 23 until the liquid level rises sufficiently to provide contact with electrode sensing means 33 whereupon metering pump 22 is stopped upon receiving a stop signal from control electronic level control means 35 in direct response to a signal from liquid level sensing means 33. When the liquid level drops in liquid reservoir 23 sufficient to separate electrode sensing means 33 from the level of the liquid within the reservoir, then metering pump 22 is again activated in response to the drop in the liquid level. Counter means 37 is operatively connected to metering pump 22, interval timer 38 and digital readout 39, whereby a ready, current and permanent reference is available for monitoring the amount of liquid pickup by the filamentary material. The monitoring cycle can be repeated as often as desired or necessary by activating control means 30, reset switch 31 and timer switch 36. Thus, the apparatus provides an accurate, current and automatic monitoring system for the amount of liquid pickup on moving filamentary material in either a continuous or intermittent manner.

The present invention provides many advantages over methods known and used heretofore. Previously, the apparatus and method for determing the amount of liquid pickup to moving filamentary material was one essentially carried out manually which required excessive labor requirements and inherently had considerable error due to the apparatus and method as well as the obvious human error in carrying out the method with the apparatus then available. This invention requires a minimum of labor, since, as once the apparatus is set up it can apply, control and monitor the amount of liquid to moving filamentary material for any time interval by simply controlling the filling of the liquid reservoir through the use of the apparatus and method of this invention. Further, the apparatus and method of this invention achieve substantially automatically accurate and reproducible results with an accompanying minimum labor requirement.

Another advantage of the apparatus and method of this invention resides in the extremely accurate control that can be maintained. It has been found that the liquid level within the reservoir can be controlled to an accuracy of about 0.2 cc variation from the absolute or exact liquid level. The minimum variation obtainable heretofore by the manual method was 5.0 cc. To obtain and maintain these close tolerances, preferably the discharge end of the conduit means 21 should be so attached to the liquid reservoir 23 so as to allow the feed liquid to be fed into the reservoir in a drop-wise fashion. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that this operation allows essentially zero surface tension within liquid reservoir 23 which, in turn, allows substantially greater sensitivity by electrode sensing means 33 and therefore substantially greater accuracy of the liquid level than heretofore possible.

The present invention has been described in detail above for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to be limited by this description or otherwise except as defined in the appended claims.

It I 'm d: l. A n zipp aratus for applying, controlling and monitoring the amount of liquid to moving filamentary material, the combination comprising:

a. a liquid supply tank;

b. a liquid reservoir, said reservoir having an electrode sensing means, an applicator roll rotatably mounted therein, an electric ground means attached to the wall of said reservoir and a conduit means communicating with said supply tank;

c. a positive displacement metering pump, said pump disposed in said conduit means for supplying liquid from said tank to said reservoir;

d. forwarding means for moving said filamentary material across said roll;

e. driving means for rotating said roll; and

f. control means for controlling and monitoring the liquid level in said liquid reservoir comprising an interval timer, an impulse counter, a digital readout means, an electronic level control means, said electronic level control means being operatively connected to said control means, and said electrode sensing means wherein (a) upon separation of the electrode sensing means with the liquid level in said reservoir, a start signal is sent to said pump via said electronic level control means to provide a flow of liquid from said liquid supply tank to said reservoir; and upon contact of the electrode sensing means with the liquid level in said reservoir, to provide a stop signal to the pump via said electronic level control means to shut off said pump; and (b) said control means further providing a signal to said interval timer and impulse counter which counts, upon each activation of said pump, the number of pump strokes, and, said impulse counter operatively in communication with said digital readout means in accordance with the formula:

of Liquid Pickup [(lmpulse Counter Reading) (cc/impulse) X l00)]/[Grams of Polymer Spun] 2. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein the digital readout means is a continuous tape readout.

3. An apparatus of claim 1 for monitoring percent yarn liquid pickup. 

1. An apparatus for applying, controlling and monitoring the amount of liquid to moving filamentary material, the combination comprising: a. a liquid supply tank; b. a liquid reservoir, said reservoir having an electrode sensing means, an applicator roll rotatably mounted therein, an electric ground means attached to the wall of said reservoir and a conduit means communicating with said supply tank; c. a positive displacement metering pump, said pump disposed in said conduit means for supplying liquid from said tank to said reservoir; d. forwarding means for moving said filamentary material across said roll; e. driving means foR rotating said roll; and f. control means for controlling and monitoring the liquid level in said liquid reservoir comprising an interval timer, an impulse counter, a digital readout means, an electronic level control means, said electronic level control means being operatively connected to said control means, and said electrode sensing means wherein (a) upon separation of the electrode sensing means with the liquid level in said reservoir, a start signal is sent to said pump via said electronic level control means to provide a flow of liquid from said liquid supply tank to said reservoir; and upon contact of the electrode sensing means with the liquid level in said reservoir, to provide a stop signal to the pump via said electronic level control means to shut off said pump; and (b) said control means further providing a signal to said interval timer and impulse counter which counts, upon each activation of said pump, the number of pump strokes, and, said impulse counter operatively in communication with said digital readout means in accordance with the formula: of Liquid Pickup ((Impulse Counter Reading) (cc/impulse) X 100))/(Grams of Polymer Spun)
 2. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein the digital readout means is a continuous tape readout.
 3. An apparatus of claim 1 for monitoring percent yarn liquid pickup. 